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— Ladi6.com launched in 2017, initially started as a product resource blog. The last three years saw the site rise in viewership, thanks to its helpful content contributions towards consumers.
The site produces excellent content, focusing predominately on a consumer-centric topic. The last three years proved to be an eventful journey, with plenty of eyeballs gravitating to the site. A spokesperson for ladi6.com stated the company had intentions to expand in 2020, with its growing traffic volume requiring more content.Ladi6.com targeted pitoche.com in early 2020, taking its time with due diligence on the company and its product.
The move by Ladi6.com to acquire pitoche.com comes at a peculiar time in the global economy. With COVID ravaging the planet, many businesses are scaling back – rather than scaling up.Ladi6.com comes with an acquisition strategy at a time when economic demand is waning. So, why the need to burn through cash now?
This bold move by Ladi6.com is a brilliant strategy. By expanding when your competition is weak, you grab market share as their efforts decline and budgets dry up. The team at Ladi6.com understands an opportunity when they see it. The team identified pitoche.com as the target for the acquisition, and the rest is history. By taking a chance in an uncertain era, Ladi6.com assumes a calculated risk they know will pay off.
According to a spokesperson from Ladi6.com, "Pitoche.com was a natural choice; it just made sense. The site's product alignment and content strategy fit with ours like a match made in heaven. We're pleased we managed to come to favorable terms with the pitoche.com management. We decided to look at acquiring another site in 2019 as part of our 2020 growth strategy. With the onset of the pandemic, we saw it as a buying opportunity and decided to go ahead with our expansion plans."
The Spokesperson for Ladi6.com further noted “The management team at pitcoche.com was instrumental in getting this deal through. They understood our expansion needs and our requirements for a seamless transition. Our organic and inorganic search is on the rise in 2020, and we hope this acquisition adds more value to our site, and it's offering. We think pitoche.com offers our viewers the content they want to consume. We feel it adds value to our community, and we look forward to our viewer's responses on the updated content archives on our site. We expect the site to continue to grow from strength to strength. The acquisition positions Ladi6.com for domination of its niche. With a dedicated, authentic content strategy, Ladi6.com strengthens its legacy as one of the premier consumer review sites online.”
The management team at Ladi6.com understands the risk of expanding when the global economy is sinking. However, the opportunity to acquire pitoche.com appeared at precisely the right time. Ladi6.com experienced a period of steady growth during the infancy of the business. Over the last year, the website is starting to see some massive traffic volumes. Ladi6.com wanted to acquire a company it feels fits with its brand identity to update its content offering. Pitoche.com was a natural choice. The company describes the deal as a significant win for Ladi6.com, cementing its growth and reputation in the market.
With the acquisition complete, the Ladi6.com site bolsters its already impressive content offering. The addition of the pitoche.com content makes Ladi6.com a real player in the space. The company's aggressive but calculated approach to its content strategy is what makes it shine in the face of competition. The management team at Ladi6.com understands growth and when to execute. They can expect this site to continue its march up the search rankings to recognition as the leading authority in its niche.Ladi6.com continues to extend its legacy into the digital space of product reviews and useful consumer content. Its acquisition of pitoche.com shows that the site has a strategy. It also displays its commitment to the future growth of the company with this decision.
Name: Josh Thompson
Email: Send Email
Organization: Outreach Services
Release ID: 88981297


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U.S. Consumer confidence, as measured by the New York-based Conference Board, increased nicely in May. Manufacturing, however, did not.
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy just barely grew last month, says the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), Tempe, Ariz. Its manufacturing index for May was at 51.4%, 1.9 percentage points below April's 53.3%, four-tenths of a percentage point below the 51.8% economists generally expected and the lowest the index has been since its 50.4% in June 2003.
An index figure above 50% indicates the manufacturing sector generally is expanding; an index figure below 50% signals manufacturing is contracting.
Both new orders and production continued to grow last month, but more slowly than they had been. New orders fell two percentage points to 51.7% in May from 53.7% in April, and production fell 1.8 percentage points to 54.9% from 56.7%. Employment in manufacturing stopped growing after 18 months, falling 3.5 percentage points to 48.8% from 52.3%.
"The manufacturing sector is definitely slowing, and the question is whether a somewhat stronger [U.S.] dollar and the burden of high energy costs are slowly bringing this manufacturing growth cycle to an end," says Norbert J. Ore, the chair of ISM's manufacturing business survey committee.
Indeed, rising oil prices are affecting the growth rates of U.S. manufacturers, indicates a PricewaterhouseCoopers study released June 1. A majority -- 59% -- of the companies surveyed indicated they are passing along price increases, although 41% still reported shrinking gross margins during their most recent fiscal quarter. What's more, 47% of the 73 senior executives in large, multinational industrial companies PwC surveyed cited rising energy prices as a potential barrier to growth during the next 12 months.
"The industrial sector is in the midst of a classic mid-cycle inventory correction that is adjusting for slower growth in consumer spending and a continuing rise in the imported goods share of the manufacturing sector," says Daniel J. Meckstroth, chief economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, an Arlington, Va.-based business and public policy research group.

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There are many elements of Belarus that are novel to African guests: its nature, cuisine and well-developed infrastructure. But what they didn’t have to get used to is the July climate. July is the coldest month in Zimbabwe; the temperature there at this time is about the same as ours. Acclimatisation was not a problem for the delegation. There is hope that there will be no obstacles to co-operation in the trade and economic sectors. The flagships of our domestic industry (MAZ, MTZ, BelAZ, BSW) have worked for the Zimbabwean market for a while now and even managed to sign some contracts. In truth however, their implementation leaves much to be desired. In recent years, the country has experienced a severe financial crisis. Inflation has reached a truly cosmic scale. This summer, one US dollar was equivalent to 250 trillion Zimbabwean dollars. But this is, presumably, a temporary difficulty. Zimbabwe has an abundance of natural wealth with commercial production of iron, coal, gold, silver, nickel, platinum and diamonds. Alexander Lukashenko has offered to begin a programme of interaction: “I think that we should start with a few specific projects. It will be a message to entrepreneurs not only from your country but also from other countries, with which you share the border.”
Zimbabwe has relied on the development of the mining industry and the construction of its social and economic infrastructure. In this respect, they are interested in our experiences. The Zimbabweans are keen to purchase dumper trucks as well as road and construction equipment. Only the problem of maintenance and servicing of the vehicles is an issue for them. Mr. Lukashenko suggested we should study the possibility of establishing a single powerful service centre in the region for all Belarusian equipment.
Emmerson Mnangagwa personally made sure of the quality of our products by driving one of the vehicles at BelAZ. He declared that he is probably the only man in Africa who is lucky enough to have been on such a heavy truck.
In Zimbabwe, they have undertaken mechanisation of agriculture. The country grows a lot of quality cotton, tea and tobacco, one of the best on the continent. Local farmers will certainly like Belarusian tractors. African banks and the Bank of Development of Belarus are potential sources of financing for the purchases.
By Vladimir Khromov


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Driving relevance means driving growth. Join global brands and industry thought leaders at Brandweek, Sept. 11–14 in Miami, for actionable takeaways to better your marketing. 50% off passes ends April 10.
Those who travel frequently might not think of an international flight as an audibly enjoyable experience, what with all the engine noise, crackling announcements and disgruntled toddlers.
But Singapore Airlines just proved there’s a lot of musical potential hidden in the body of an Airbus A350 and in the ambient sounds of a lengthy flight.
To promote its first nonstop flight from Singapore to Seattle, the airline partnered with DJ Chong the Nomad to create a song using only sounds from inside and out of the airplane.


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Windows ARM Software News
A case could be made that Microsoft has done a poor job marketing Windows 8. Given that it is spending upwards of a billion (with a B) dollars on promotions, the problem is not in hyping the new operating system, but in explaining the differences between Windows 8 for x86 devices and Windows RT, the Windows 8 designed for ARM-based machines.
Windows RT is a version of Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system that has been tailored specifically for tablets and notebooks powered by ARM processors. The new OS represents a massive shift for the Redmond-based company, as it is both the first version to support ARM SoCs and the first iteration to enable interaction on a tablet as enjoyable as a mouse and keyboard are on the desktop version of the OS.
During recent travels around the western U.S., I asked many computer salespeople about Windows 8 — and was truly shocked at inaccurate information provided about the new OS. Few knew the key differences between versions, and almost all offered “advice” that was way off the mark.
Windows RT devices and their apps set new high-water mark for Windows security. But without support for Active Directory, their enterprise use is limited - Even Microsoft's lawyers say it: Windows RT isn't Windows. In fact, Microsoft is releasing two different operating systems: Windows 8 and Windows RT (Run Time).
Facebook and Twitter are woven into the Windows 8 OS, but we still need native Windows RT apps to get the most from the services on a tablet - Microsoft is hosting a media event today to mark the official launch of Windows 8, and the Surface RT tablet. The initial reviews of the Surface RT have had high praise for the quality and construction of the tablet hardware, but almost universally reviewers are concerned with the lack of apps for Windows RT.
Microsoft's Windows is coming to tablets again, showing that a fondleslab can do anything a laptop can. Yet not all Windows tablets are equal, and Microsoft is relying on our ongoing obsession with physical keyboards to ensure that Windows RT remains secondary to the flagship full-fat Windows 8 operating system.
European Union regulators will not force Microsoft to open its Windows RT operating system to rival browsers, the Brussels-based antitrust agency said Wednesday. At the same time, the European Competition Commission served Microsoft with formal charges for failing to display a required browser choice screen on millions of Windows 7 PCs in the EU over a year-and-a-half span ending last July.
Meet Windows RT: Microsoft's first serious foray into tablets came just after the turn of the new millenium, with Bill Gates demonstrating the first tablet PC prototype onstage at Comdex in the autumn of 2000. From there, OEMs started releasing tablets based on Windows XP Tablet PC Edition in 2002, with a full range of pen-enabled slates and convertibles releasing over the next few years.
Forget the attractive, four-star hardware. The new Microsoft Surface with Windows RT is a disaster, and I predict Windows RT won't last two years. I'm not talking about Windows 8. The Surface with Windows 8 looks like an excellent (if costly) tablet, especially for businesses. Windows RT is a new OS that looks like Windows 8, but isn't. Bluntly, it runs Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, and almost nothing else.
Coming off of our previous coverage, you may have heard about Windows 8 (read CNET's review) and Windows RT as being different. While Microsoft has made a point of cutting down on the number of Windows 8 versions available when compared with previous Windows releases, the company is also making a feature-limited Windows 8 version to run on ARM processors called Windows RT. Windows RT is more like Microsoft's attempt to do a Windows version of Apple's locked-down iOS than anything else.
Before he went to the mat and declared Microsoft's Windows RT-based Surface tablet dead on arrival, my colleague and PCMag's lead mobile analyst, Sascha Segan, sent a copy of his column to our editorial staff and dared anyone to dispute him.
Windows 8 represents a new kind of Windows release for Intel, in terms of the opportunities to expand into new markets, and the threats posed to the chipmaker's core PC processor business.
The difference between Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT - With only two versions of Windows 8 to be available to consumers, plus one for ARM devices (pre-installed only), what you get ought to be straightforward.
The CPU landscape has changed since Microsoft begin porting Windows to ARM - When news broke in December 2010 that Microsoft was going to port Windows to ARM, I said it made no sense.
When Microsoft launches Windows 8 on Oct. 26, Redmond and its partners will begin selling Windows RT hardware at the same time. What Microsoft hasn't really communicated is that Windows RT is essentially a separate operating system with different features, quirks, benefits, and limitations.


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German News website Spiegel claimed that Veganz, the Germany-based vegan supermarket chain, had filed for bankruptcy earlier this month.
The article stated that the supermarket chain ‘which completely forgoes animal products, has failed’.
Other articles quickly followed, including a VICE article, titled ‘The World’s First Vegan Supermarket Chain Just Went Bankrupt’.
Veganz responded on facebook, calling the article ‘fake news’.
“Whoever has put this bullsh*t out to the world would certainly NOT win a prize for good journalism,” Veganz added.
Instead, the company has ‘launched a plan for insolvency proceedings in only one of six Veganz retail companies’.
The co-owner of the new London-based vegan supermarket GreenBay, Paula Alcalde, said that the journalism was ‘misleading and lazy’ and ‘can do incredible damage to current vegan businesses’.
Likewise, Veganuary, the popular British vegan campaign, saw a threefold increase in the number of signups this year relative to 2016.


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Federal Reserve waxes gloomy: The Federal Reserve today lowered its projection for economic growth this year, citing damage from the double blows of a housing slump and credit crunch. It said it also expects higher unemployment and inflation.
The updated forecasts come amid worry by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues that the economy could continue to weaken, even after their aggressive interest rate cuts in January, according to minutes of those private deliberations released Wednesday.
“With no signs of stabilization in the housing sector and with financial conditions not yet stabilized, the committee agreed that downside risks to growth would remain even after this action,” minutes of the Fed’s Jan. 29-30 closed door meeting showed.
Under its new economic forecast, the Fed said it now believes the gross domestic product will grow between 1.3 percent and 2 percent this year. That’s lower than a previous Fed forecast for growth, which at that time was estimated to be between 1.8 percent and 2.5 percent.
California budget estimate worsens: California’s fiscal watchdog said today the state’s budget shortfall has grown to $16 billion, in large part because of falling tax revenue from the depressed housing market.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last month pegged the deficit at $14.5 billion through June 2009.
The larger number equals the projected size of the deficit when Schwarzenegger was elected during the 2003 recall election on a promise to fix the state’s finances, although it’s a smaller percentage of the overall state budget.
The $16 billion figure, announced by legislative analyst Elizabeth Hill, is about 11 percent of California’s overall spending plan. The figure is based on new economic data through the beginning of February.
If only there were a gadget for generating cash: Sharper Image, the San Francisco retailer known for selling high-tech massage chairs and nose-hair groomers among other luxury products, has filed for bankruptcy, the company announced today.
Sharper Image will “conduct business as usual while it devotes renewed efforts to resolve its operations and liquidity problems and develops a reorganization plan,” according to a statement on its Web site.
The company has 183 retail stores in the United States, but plans to close 90 of them. Last Thursday Sharper Image named Robert Conway chief executive officer, replacing Steven Lightman. Conway is a founding member of New York financial advisory firm Conway, Del Genio, Gries & Co.
A week before Lightman’s departure, Sharper Image released figures showing total company sales fell 26 percent during the fiscal year, which ended Jan. 31.
Intel lauded for responsibility: Intel was awarded the top spot in this year’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list published by CRO Magazine and released today. The magazine, whose target audience is “corporate responsibility officers,” draws contestants for the list from companies on the Russell 1000 Index. The list emphasizes “the corporate responsibility efforts of large, impactful corporations in eight categories: Climate Change, Employee Relations, Environment, Financial, Governance, Human Rights, Lobbying and Philanthropy,” according to the magazine’s Web site.
Silicon Valley heavyweights Cisco Systems and Sun Microsystems were also among the list’s top 20 designees.
Silicon Valley tech stocks:
Up: Apple, Applied Materials, Cisco Systems, Electronic Arts, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Oracle, Sun Microsystems. Down: Ebay, Yahoo
The Dow Jones industrial average (based on preliminary calculations): Up 90.04 points, or 0.73 percent, closing at 12,427.26.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index: Up 11.25 points, or 0.83 percent, closing at 1,360.03.
The Nasdaq: Up 20.90 points, or 0.91 percent, closing at 2,327.10.
Check in weekday afternoons for the 60-Second Business Break, a summary of news from Mercury News staff writers, the Associated Press, Bloomberg News and other wire services.


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Key Highlights from Reliance AGM 2019: JioFiber Rollout & More
Since its commercial launch on 5 September 2016, Jio now caters to a subscriber base of 340 million in India. It's the largest telecom operator in India and the 2nd largest in the world.
The company is looking to reach the 500 million mark, which it's expected to hit in the next 12 to 15 months time. But with its mobile target more or less achieved, Jio is now putting all its efforts on building the broadband segment in the country.
Here’s everything that Jio announced with regards to JioFiber and its mobile network at the Reliance AGM 2019 on Monday.
As highlighted by Mukesh Ambani, Chairman, Reliance, the company is now focusing on setting up four pillars based around its internet ecosystem. These are Internet of Things (IoT), Home Broadband Service, Enterprise Broadband Service and Broadband for SMBs. The first pillar, JioFiber, will be commercially available starting from 5 September.
Interestingly, Jio’s home broadband network will be complemented by its own TV streaming service. The service will be made available via local cable operators who'll be streaming through a 4k setup box by Jio.
In terms of speed and other benefits, JioFiber will offer data speeds up to 1Gbps, provide the customer with a landline phone, and promises to offer ultra high-definition (4K) entertainment and virtual reality content.
For offices, the internet will provide multi-party video conferencing, interactive online gaming, home security and smart home solutions as well. The set-top box doubles as a gaming console. You can play PS4 and Xbox level gaming online with zero latency.
With JioFiber, you won't have to pay for voice calls. The pricing for Jio Fiber will be between Rs 700 Rs 10,000.
For mobile users, Jio announced a slew of calling plans. It has added international (ISD) plans for US and Canada that can be availed at Rs 500 per month. More details about this plan will be available on Jio.com and MyJio app in the coming days.
But it seems, Jio is gunning for everyone, including movie theatres. For this, JioFiber will offer subscriptions for top video streaming platforms to those signing up for its broadband plan.
To stream all this content, people opting for the annual plan of JioFiber will not only get the streaming service, but they will be given a free HD or 4K TV for free with a 4K set top box.
Moving on, Jio also announced its partnership with Tesseract, a tech startup that came up with a mixed reality headset which The Quint got access to few months back and we made a video demonstrating the device as to how users will be able to use Jio's high-speed internet with mixed reality.
Besides JioFiber, the company has also partnered with Microsoft to set up data centres in India and will also provide access to its suite of Office apps. It has offered incentives for small business by offering them free cloud services. All of this will be available to startups starting at Rs 1,500 per month.
Having seen all of these announcements at the event, we were slightly surprised that the company didn’t launch the JioPhone 3 at the keynote.
(The Quint is now available on Telegram. For handpicked stories every day, subscribe to us on Telegram)


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Finally, thanks to Microsoft's new Unified Update Platform, your PC will now only download the specific files that require updating on your PC, rather than fetching a huge archive that might not be needed.
Microsoft killed its generous free Windows 10 upgrade offer back on 29 July 2016, offering up a small window of opportunity for those who missed it in the form of the Windows 10 assistive technology upgrade.
Microsoft has also expanded a device's possible "active hours", so the updates don't try to install themselves when users are still working. They often require a restart and can come at inopportune times - such as the start of an important meeting. Microsoft isn't sharing just how many books will be available in the Windows Store at launch. These devices will light up with new, immersive Windows Mixed Reality apps and experiences, which developers are creating on the recently available Windows Mixed Reality dev kits. Microsoft says it could take as long as a couple of months before everyone sees it, and even then you'll have the opportunity to snooze it until you're ready.
All of a user's tabs will be stored in a list that's sorted by when they were set aside. Plus when you close and later re-open the book, Edge will turn straight to the page where you left off.
The Windows 10 Creators Update brings along with it lots of changes and improvements; that's probably one reason why Windows 10 users are interested in upgrading their machines to the latest version of the operating system. Microsoft is altering the Xbox's interface to make it simpler and faster to navigate through menus and find content to play. Now, that sidebar has been replaced by a floating box.
Support for other features is still in its fledgling stages, but extensions are making their way into the browser, which is good news for users potentially looking to lose Chrome or Firefox.
Fans continue to pay tribute to musical legend Chuck Berry
Presley may have had the swagger and sexuality to take rock "n" roll to the masses, but Berry was its architect. The Cadillac in Berry's "Nadine" is not just a Cadillac, but a "coffee colored" Cadillac.
The transition between Windows and Xbox gaming is smoother than ever and now even more has been done to improve that PC gaming experience. The Windows 10 Creators Update is on its way. "And the key features in this update will help light up creativity".
"With all the unsafe security threats online today, Microsoft Edge blocks 9% more phishing sites and 13% more malware than Chrome - helping protect your identity and information; speed matters on the Web and according to Google's own benchmarks, Microsoft Edge is faster than Chrome".
There's also new support for Beam, Microsoft's own live-streaming service. It also adds support for virtual reality and mixed reality headsets.
We're almost two years into the life cycle of Microsoft's latest operating system. The Windows Insider program lets you beta test advance versions of the OS for free, if you don't mind the occasional bug, and here's what you need to do to get enrolled.
For some, these major feature updates may be incredibly valuable; for others they may not make much difference.


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Alyn Smith, SNP full member of the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee, has welcomed the publication of a report by the European Commission that explores the possibility of extending mandatory origin labelling for meat used as an ingredient.
The report (based on an external study that included broad consultations with stakeholders, including consumer and industry organisations, consumers as well as national competent authorities in the EU Member States) weighed up the need for the consumer to be informed, the feasibility of introducing mandatory origin labelling and provided a cost/benefit analysis including the impact for the single market and international trade.
On the basis of discussions with EU Member States and the European Parliament, the Commission will now consider what, if any, appropriate steps should be taken. This may include, if appropriate, tabling a legislative proposal to regulate the origin of meat used as an ingredient in foods.
"In the wake of the horsemeat scandal, plus after our hard-won experience with BSE, there's no farmer in Scotland who won't be able to tell you the value of having a safe, transparent and straightforward foodchain. Maintaining confidence in our meat products is absolutely vital for our farmers.
"However, it is also abundantly clear that our consumers feel the same urgency about having clarity on where their food comes from. This report states that 90% of people have a strong interest in having origin labelling for meat used as an ingredient.
"I'm not always the first to welcome new rules from the European Union but with the ever-deeper integration of our food markets, it is apparent that we need greater European regulatory coordination, not less. This report, and the proposals made, show the beginning of moves to address the current hole in legislation.
"I sincerely hope the Commission will now take steps to bring a legislative proposal to Parliament."
The Commission press release is available at: http: //europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-1265_en.htm


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The Atmanirbhar Apps app by Indian short-video company Mitron is now available to download on Google Play Store. The app essentially lists a variety of homegrown apps from categories like business, e-learning, news, health, shopping, games, utility, entertainment, social, and more. Users with this app can find information regarding an Indian app as well as its Google Play download link. The Atmanirbhar Apps aims to push Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s local pe vocal campaign that is in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-sufficient India) initiative.
Some of the apps listed on Atmanirbhar Apps by Mitron include Aarogya Setu, BHIM UPI, MyGov, PMO India, mPassport Seva, UMANG, and OnlineRTI. It also aims to popularise lesser-known made in India apps like Atmanirbh Kifayat, Grocit, Jain Thela, Home Shoppy, YourQuote, Vridhi Stores, Xploree AI Keyboard, mParivahan, and more. The company says that its “motto” to make this app is to promote homegrown apps that “help Indian customers know about Indian products and services.” The Atmanirbhar Apps app is free to use on Android devices, and its availability details for iOS devices remain unclear.
To recall, the creators of the Atmanirbhar Apps, Mitron had launched its short-video of the same name as the company’s, as an alternative to “Indian alternative” to TikTok back in April. The Mitron app, though had appeared to be a clone of TikTok (now banned in India) due to similarities in its functioning and features. The app currently has over 1 crore downloads on Google Play Store. The Mitron app is unavailable on Apple App Store.


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Ambrane has announced the FitShot series smartwatches in India and launched the first model Zest featuring voice assistant in addition to calling, menstrual cycle tracking and real-time health tracking. The device is available on Flipkart and comes with 365 days of warranty.
Priced at ₹4999, the Smartwatch is available in three colour options — Black, Blue, and Pink. “We are a customer-focused firm that focuses on products that sync with the needs of today’s generation. We are thrilled to debut the FitShot series, with each watch featuring its own distinct set of features tailored to individual needs. The newest FitShot Zest is everything this generation would desire in a smartwatch,” says Sachin Railhan, Director, Ambrane India.
FitShot Zest comes with a 1.7″ lucid display and stylish design. The device supports 24*7 real-time Health Tracking which includes – SpO2, Blood Pressure, Sleep, Heart rate monitoring and many more. Steps tracker, calories burned and activity history are also included. The Smartwatch comes with a unique menstrual cycle tracking that easily records and tracks the female cycles. It has a water resistance rating of IP67, making it resistant to dust and water.
The watch lets the users to choose the watch face from 60+ cloud-based watch faces and use their own customised watch faces. The Smartwatch is voice assistance enabled and comes equipped with the Bluetooth calling feature that allows the users to stay connected anytime, anywhere. Users can control music playback and camera functions on a paired smartphone directly from the wearable. The device also supports 10 sports modes.
Once fully charged, the Smartwatch can last up to 7 days of use. The device can manage music, calls and more through the several smart notifications on the screen.


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Apple is officially killing the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle
They were the last two iPods that didn't run iOS, the same software that runs on the iPhone."Today, we are simplifying our iPod lineup with two models of iPod touch now with double the capacity starting at just $199 and we are discontinuing the iPod shuffle and iPod nano," an Apple spokesperson told Business Insider in an email.
The iPod Touch, which is essentially an iPhone without cell service, has been given a price cut, and now comes with 32GB of storage space for $199 and 128GB of storage space for $299.The elimination of the two last iPods that essentially only played music has been predicted for a long time, even within Apple. Neither iPod model discontinued on Thursday had been updated in years.
In fact, when the iPhone first came out, the music app was called "iPod." Most people now simply listen to music on their smartphone.
But the original hardware iPods have a special place in Apple's history. The iPod was the first device Apple made that was more consumer electronics than computer. The iPod clearly paved the way for the iPhone.The iPod name isn't being phased out completely. Apple's new audio products are named "AirPods" and "HomePod," and the iPod touch was by far the bestselling iPod recently. One reason Apple may be phasing these devices out is that they don't have Bluetooth, which means they don't work with Apple's latest wireless headphones, like the AirPods. They also don't support Apple Music, Apple's online streaming service for audio and video.
Regardless, it's the end of an era as Apple no longer sells any traditional music players.
- UP's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announces free funerals for deceased Covid patients
- You no longer need a Covid+ve report to get admitted to a hospital: Union Health Ministry
- Supreme Court sets up a 12-member National Task Force to facilitate public health response to the pandemic
- Adobe Summit 2021: Empowering a digital-first economy through personalisation
- Crime branch to probe recovery of O2 concentrators from Delhi eateries, including Khan Market's famous Khan Chacha and Town Hall


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Appearing on GameSpot sister site Giant Bomb's livestream at E3, Spencer spoke about the ongoing relevance of E3, and he suggested that the show's profile is hurt by Sony and Activision not being there. "I wish Sony was here," Spencer said. "E3 is not as good when they're not here," Spencer said about Sony and Activision dropping out of the big annual gaming show.
Well, you're certainly right about that, Phil. Because Microsoft certainly didn't hold down the fort. Was the Xbox conference so bad that Phil rather watch a conference from a more successful platform holder? Anyway, Sony's above this show now. I just kind of hope they would break away from E3 and do their own thing. I personally like news spread out throughout the year.


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Mid-America brokers sale of Park Ridge, Ill., center
Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. — Mid-America Real Estate Corporation’s Investment Sales team recently brokered the sale of The Shops of Uptown in Park Ridge, Ill. Phillips Edison-ARC REIT purchased the 70,402-sq.-ft. center for $27 million.
Trader Joe’s anchors the center, which also hosts Jos. A. Bank, Chico’s, LensCrafters Optique, Houlihan’s, Jason’s Deli and Noodles & Company.
Mid-America represented the seller, a joint venture of Benchmark Opportunity Partners LLC, formerly known as P.O’B Montgomery, and Long Wharf Real Estate Partners.
CBRE closes sale of West Star Plaza in Phoenix
Phoenix — CBRE has completed the sale of West Start Plaza, a 9,300-sq.-ft. retail building on N. 893rd Ave. in Phoenix. Fully leased at the time of sale, the building commanded a price of $725,000. CBRE represented the seller, Robert J. Tufts, trustee of the Robert J. Tufts Revocable Living Trust of Salem, Ore. Patriot Commercial Properties represented the buyer, Arhtom Investments LLC.
West Star Plaza features a tenant roll with a mix of local tenants, a Little Caesar’s Pizza and DolEx Money Transfer. Located in West Phoenix, West Star benefits from a mix of residential, shopping and entertainment options within minutes of the property, including Desert Sky Mall and Ak-Chin Pavilion.
NPD: U.S. restaurant count up slightly over last year
Chicago — The U.S. restaurant count increased by less than 1% from a year ago, reaching a total of 633,043 units, according to a recent restaurant census conducted by The NPD Group. Restaurant units increased by 4,179, or 0.7% over last year, based on NPD’s Fall 2013 ReCount, which is a count of commercial restaurant locations in the United States compiled in the spring and fall each year.
Restaurant chains grew counts by 1% to a total of 281,613 units, an increase of 3,171 over last year, according to the report, which includes restaurants open as of September 30, 2013.
The independent restaurant count stood at 351,430, up 1,008 units, compared to the year ago census.
Quick-service restaurant s grew units to 333,970, up 2%, and unit counts for full-service restaurants, which include casual dining, midscale/family dining, and fine dining, declined by 1% to 299,073 units.
Fast casual, which is a restaurant category under the quick-service segment, increased units by 902 for a total of 16,215 in the most recent NPD restaurant census, up 6% from the Fall 2012 ReCount.


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On-demand freelance workers are on the rise
You only have to walk into any coffee shop to see that the freelance economy is booming with laptop owners flitting between jobs as easily as they flit between cafes. Parents are increasingly moving into freelance roles that work around childcare hours and companies are reducing full-time roles in favour of project-based staff. According to the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed, there are around 1.6 million freelancers in the UK.
According to the Way We Work study, a survey of 9,000 knowledge workers by software brand Unify, 52 per cent now work in virtual teams and 42 per cent believe virtual teams can be more effective than face-to-face groupings. And for 69 per cent, the office is not as important as in the past. Some 21 per cent of knowledge workers currently operate as freelancers or contractors and 53 per cent would consider changing to this model over regular employment if it was offered.
And it’s no real surprise, says Matt Roberts, chief executive of In Touch Networks, a group of businesses partnering companies with board members, directors and consultants. He says: “People want greater autonomy and a better work-life balance, while companies want consultation from people with diverse skillsets and experience.”
Mr Roberts says 40 per cent of Americans will be self-employed by 2020 and he believes the UK economy is heading in the same direction. “We speak to thousands of experts building portfolio careers and we’re able to connect them directly to relevant organisations,” he says.
“We have placed non-executive directors and consultants with companies such as the National Trust, Barnardo’s and the Cabinet Office, and when we speak to companies they explain that our service allows them to diversify and tap into expertise from a broad range of sources, rather than relying on one individual employee for guidance.”
People want greater autonomy and a better work-life balance, while companies want consultation from people with diverse skillsets and experience
But still consumers have embraced the sharing economy before businesses, says Barnaby Lashbrooke, founder of virtual assistant platform Time Etc. “After several scare stories about the status of gig economy workers and zero-hour contracts, I feel companies are slowly starting to see that, far from being exploitative, the gig economy powerfully connects those who have skills to offer with those in need of the skills.”
In the case of Time Etc, the skills virtual assistants offer are not available to the labour market because many do not want to work full time. “Instead they work in the gig economy gaining valuable flexible income, many while looking after their families. The gig economy
directly connects the incredible skill and experience held by these people to companies that wouldn’t otherwise have access to them.”
But for the gig economy to really work, says Mr Lashbrooke, “I think we need a supportive government to ensure that the fantastic benefits for both companies and those who choose to find work this way continue to be possible without interference or outdated policy-making.”
Mark Gill, director of construction marketing agency DGR Marcomms, which regularly uses freelancers, explains: “We decided we wanted to form a different type of marketing agency, one that suited our lifestyles and gave us the flexibility to be big when we needed and small when we wanted.” The company has a small core team, then uses freelancers with specialist knowledge as and when required to supplement this core staff.
“This has a number of benefits,” says Mr Gill. “It means that no matter how busy we get, we’re always able to cope with the workload. We just get extra freelancers in. It also means that the quality of work is higher as we’re able to select the right specialist for each project.” For example, when the company is writing copy for a building product manufacturer, says Mr Gill, “we can use one copywriter who regularly writes for the specification audience, another who’s better with homeowners and a third who knows the correct language for the trade.”
He says you get a different type of worker when you use a freelancer. “Many of ours tend to be a little older, 30 plus, and therefore more experienced. They no longer want the young 20-something agency atmosphere and have taken to being their own bosses and to freelancing.”
Another advantage, says Mr Gill, is that they don’t have to maintain a certain type of work due to an internal staffing set-up. “So when we are working on communications strategies, we have no bias as to whether we suggest PR, social media or advertising,” he says.
“Although we have a small office hub, where the freelancers can come and work with us, we find that many prefer to work from home and with Skype; it’s extremely easy to collaborate on a project without physically being in the same room.”
The other obvious benefit is that when the company is quiet, say at Christmas or in the middle of the summer, they can retract and keep overheads to a minimum. This, says Mr Gill, “enables us to keep our rates more competitive than if we were a traditional agency”.
Chris Bridgen, chief executive of business-grade handyman service Facilfix.co.uk, a Time Etc client, says: “In my mind, the principal benefits of outsourcing for a startup like ours are flexibility and access to skills that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive to employ in any other way.”
Mr Bridgen uses Time Etc mostly for social media management. “It’s nice to know that whatever else comes up, I simply log the task and a safe pair of hands just gets it done. I get access to hundreds of skills to use on a task-by-task basis. If I needed to employ those skills directly, the number of people required, vetting complexity, employment costs, training costs and so on would prevent me from doing so, and I couldn’t move the business forward,” he says.
There’s no doubt that the increase of freelance contracts will impact on future perceptions of work
This gig economy is having a significant impact on the world of work. And it’s not just smaller companies cashing in on it. Earlier this year, PwC, one of the big four accountancy firms, launched its new Talent Exchange platform. Currently only available in the United States, the platform is geared towards the company’s consulting arm. When it launched, PwC estimated that freelancers will eventually comprise 10 per cent of its consulting workforce.
There’s no doubt that the increase of freelance contracts will impact on future perceptions of work. People will no longer have to choose as starkly between childcare and working, and older people will be able to alter their approach to retirement.
Tim Bishop, head of strategy at Unify, says: “As technology continues to proliferate in both our work and personal lives, we expect to see knowledge workers become more and more adept at integrating these two worlds. They will set their own boundaries and naturally strive to find new ways of working that works for them – especially as their own lives become more complex.”
However, employers, recruiters and candidates alike need to be protected in this new landscape. Research from the Recruitment and Employment Federation (REC) reveals that one in five businesses feel the risks of incorporating digital work platforms into their hiring strategies outweigh the benefits. One big concern for employers is ensuring they get access to high-quality talent.
In its report, Gig Economy: The Uberisation of Work, the REC recommends that in order to maintain high standards, employers pay fair rates to gig workers and release funds as necessary to guarantee candidates are paid for their efforts. The REC research suggests that, if the government clarified the legal status and responsibilities of digital work platforms, 23 per cent of businesses would be encouraged to increase their use of gig workers and this could bring benefits to the entire UK labour market.
CASE STUDY: UNIVERSAL AVENUE
Stockholm-based Universal Avenue is a global on-demand salesforce application, connecting growing and established brands with a talented community of salespeople, who they call “brand ambassadors” and help drive product sales where and when brands need it.
Its mobile app houses training materials relevant to each brand, allowing ambassadors to learn about their product and take a test to become certified to sell it. Universal Avenue then provides the ambassadors with potential leads through its app and, once a deal closes, they are paid a sales commission from each sale.
Founded in 2014, the company works with more than 20 global brands, including Shopify, Spotify Business and NOWO. It now has offices in Stockholm, London, Barcelona and Athens, but operates all over Europe, with plans to launch in the United States later this year. It’s also just raised $10 million in seed funding.
Breaking new markets can be a huge risk for a small company. You need salespeople, but to hire full-time staff is risky if you’re not sure it’s going to pay off. Hiring freelancers in an unknown territory brings different risks, as does sending out your own trusted freelancers. And if you’re seeking to sell to other small businesses, the landscape can be even trickier to navigate, with no centralised contact or manager.
The platform claims to mitigate some of the Brexit risk for small businesses by helping navigate legislation and saving time, money and resources that can be allocated to other areas of the business.
Georgina Varadi, head of brand communications, says: “We work with innovative brands. These brands come in all shapes and sizes: from big brands that want to get bigger or enter new markets; to small brands and startups that want to scale quickly. They have one thing in common, though, they want to grow, test new markets.”


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Adidas hosted a rare football-meets-track and field competition at Santa Monica College this past Saturday, April 29, that put athletes to a test of endurance and skill, while showcasing the company’s latest advancements in boost technology.
The “Boots and Bounce” event featured 20 SoCal youth football teams (ages 16 to 18), recruited by Adidas’ West Coast Regional Director of Soccer Cairo Salvatierra, from nine different clubs around the L.A., Orange County, and San Diego areas. The tournament began with a 4v4 football match, followed by a 4×400 relay race, as well as music, artists, and some alluring tech from SoCal Soccer Player Development Center.
“A lot of these athletes are dual athletes. They do cross country and soccer or track and soccer, so I thought it was a cool time to do something a little bit different or a little more unique,” said Salvatierra, who organized the event along with Adidas Running rep Matt Hathaway.
“We have a lot of cool technologies like the Boosts in running shoes making their way into soccer footwear like the Ace line,” he explained.
Adidas has been an important influencer in the advancement of sports technology that have helped athletes beat records and perform at higher levels. At the event, participants were able to try out a variety of footwear, including the latest in their turbocharged soccer shoes, Boost models, and the Alphabounce running line.
This approach to multi-sport athletes is one way Adidas is reaching out to a younger generation, not least by testing their football skills after having them race around the track. How many times has endurance made the difference in the last bits of a football game? The pressure to perform under duress is a true test of a player.
Alongside the competition, the event also featured selected artists who hand-painted a variety of classic Adidas models, including the Stan Smith, Samoa, and Superstar.
Jenna Sherman, a Los Angeles-based artist, was one such featured painter. “As a DJ, I learned quickly that energy is huge when it comes to connecting with crowds. Painting people is like capturing their essence and their being and getting that energy out of a painting is the coolest thing to me,” she shared.
The unique items were raffled at the end of the day, along with L.A. Galaxy suite tickets, the Adidas miCoach Smart Ball, and of course some select soccer and running shoes.
Niky’s Sports, a sizable retailer of Adidas Soccer, was also on hand to supply giveaways, while SoCal Soccer Player Development Center brought their Elite Skills Arenas—essentially a smart ring with panels that light up and test players’ passing accuracy and timely reaction.
In addition to helping Adidas market events in a unique way, blending sports is also an increasingly popular trend. “Soccer golf is getting huge,” said Salvatierra. He also cited soccer tennis as a source of inspiration. “We will probably try to replicate [the event] in a different city in the U.S. at some point this year and then possibly another country. But this was the first of its kind that we have done anywhere.”
Winners of the Boots and Bounce event received a free pair of their favorite Adidas Soccer boots, a $120 voucher for a free pair of running shoes at Road Runner Sports, and a suite night at an L.A. Galaxy match.


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Rayman Origins for 3DS European release date pushed back
Developer needs the extra time to “fine-tune a few details” in portable Nintendo version.
Portable 3D version of Rayman Origins is no longer releasing on its initially scheduled European release window, Ubisoft has confirmed.
The colorful platformer was originally due for release this month, now it won’t make it to stores until summer – specifically on June 8. The game, however, is still on track for its late March launch in the US although that could change at any moment, as the publisher did issue a comment regarding the delay, stating that the additional months will give them the proper time to polish the 3DS iteration and ensure it reaches the platform at its finest state.
“Sorry, we know many of you are eagerly waiting for it, but we really want you to love the game as much on 3DS as you did on Vita and on other consoles,” the developer added.


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Sail Maldives yacht rally… Biggest sailing event in the Indian Ocean!
Maldives.net.mv – Entries are now open for the first edition of the Sail Maldives yacht rally – one of the most exciting events the Maldives has ever seen – and organisers are inviting potential sponsors to get involved.
The whole country is gearing up to welcome participants from around the world. It will be the largest mass-participation event in Maldivian history, with Maldivians across the length of the entire country getting involved.
Sail Maldives will also help to propel the Maldives into the international yachting scene – a lucrative luxury tourism sector which has been somewhat side-lined until now in the Maldives.
The event is being covered by the international media, which gives Maldivian businesses a unique opportunity to showcase their brands to a global audience. As such, Sail Maldives is inviting Maldivian businesses to discuss sponsorship options with them.
The event already has the support of Maldivian authorities including the police, customs service, immigration and coastguard, without which this event would be impossible to coordinate.
The north-to-south rally, which takes over a month to complete, commences on 20th January 2017 at Uligamu in Haa Alif Atoll. Participants will stop at various islands along the way and there will be scheduled stops at checkpoints including in Baa Atoll before the vessels continue south, crossing the equator via the Zero Degree Channel. The rally concludes in Addu Atoll.
Sail Maldives participants will be chartering one of the ancient Spice Routes used by traders since as long ago as 2,000BC. As such, the Maldives has a rich history of welcoming seafarers as well as celebrating its own unique island traditions. This is something reflected in the Sail Maldives programme. Each checkpoint the participants stop at is hosting a festival, which includes bodu beru and other cultural shows.
This will give everyone taking part in Sail Maldives a unique opportunity to experience the ‘true’ Maldivian culture. And importantly, it also gives Maldivians on islands across the country a chance to directly benefit from this event, with rally participants depending on services such as grocery supplies, laundry services, mechanical repairs and boating equipment. In addition, the rally is anticipated to attract an influx of spectators who will be in demand of guesthouse and resort accommodation along the rally route.
Organised excursions will be laid on for rally participants including snorkelling trips and scuba diving. Marking the conclusion of the rally, the Ocean Festival in Addu City will include beach games, and the official launch of Beach Golf in the Maldives.
The rally will take around 45 days. It is being organised by a Maldivian company which specialises in bespoke travel and tourism services, Luxury Collections, in cooperation with the local authorities and island communities.
Luxury Collections CEO & Founder, Adeel Ahmed, said: “This is going to be the biggest mass-participation event in the Maldives, involving people from north to south of the Maldives. It’s a unique opportunity for small and medium-sized business owners in the Maldives, as well as larger corporations, to get involved.
“People on islands along the route, such as grocery store owners and mechanics; they can all benefit from this. And we’re inviting companies to take the unique opportunity to sponsor us, thereby getting their brand seen by an international audience as well as the local audience.
“It will also open a window into a world which most foreigners don’t usually get to see; our rich Maldivian culture. We have a unique culture and identity which we are proud of and happy to share with the rest of the world. Maldivians are known for their friendliness and warmth and we are looking forward to welcoming participants from all around the world.”
Sarah Harvey, Director of PR & Marketing, added: “Sail Maldives is an incredibly exciting project for everyone to get involved with. We’ll not only be making history, but also this is a very lucrative sector of the tourism industry which is ripe for development. There are all kinds of new opportunities for all sectors of Maldivian society to get involved, whether as a sponsor, a goods and services supplier, a performer, or as a spectator!”
For more information visit www.sailmaldives.net
Photo courtesy Sail Maldives


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This week on Pureinfotech: Microsoft released another patch for its latest Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803) to address issues with Toshiba and Intel SSDs. In addition, the Fall Creators Update received a new update to fix a slew of issues.
Intel, Google, and Microsoft disclosed a new CPU vulnerability called Variant 4 (Speculative Store Bypass), but even though, it’s not as severe as Meltdown and Spectre, the update to mitigate the vulnerability will significantly affect performance.
Windows 10 build 17677 is now available for testers with a bunch of new tweaks for Microsoft Edge, improvements for Sets, and more.
In case you missed it, you can also download the pick of the week theme: Colors of the Rainbow to refresh your desktop.
If you’re looking for a new PC, Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, and HP are offering huge discounts throughout the Memorial Day weekend in the United States.
This week, you also learned a number of tips to get the most out of Windows 10 and Microsoft Launcher, including the steps to set a custom wallpaper or slideshow in the Lock screen of your Android phone using Microsoft Launcher.
We looked at the steps to fix the problem that prevents apps from accessing the microphone and camera after upgrading to the Windows 10 April 2018 Update.
You now know the instructions to keep tabs of the location of your children using a new feature in the latest version of Microsoft Launcher.
After an upgrade, Windows 10 deletes the option to rollback to a previous version after 10 days, but starting with April 2018 Update, you can now extend this period up to 60 days to give more time to uninstall an upgrade, and this guide explains how you can do it.
If your computer is syncing the wrong Windows 10 settings across devices, you don’t want Microsoft to keep a copy of your settings, or you want to start over with a clean set of preferences, it’s possible to delete the settings uploaded to the Microsoft servers. Here’s how to do it.
Finally, if you’re using the Mail app, you can check out this guide to create a custom signature, instead of sending the “Sent from Mail for Windows 10” on every message.
If you’re having any tech problems, remember that you can submit your questions in the Pureinfotech forums.


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Kia is expanding the availability of its Soul EV to five additional states. Continue Reading...
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The annual Eco-Run is once again underway, put on by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Continue Reading...
Chinese investment bank CLSA downgraded Tesla Motors today from an “outperform” to an “underperform” rating. Continue Reading...
Tesla is busy preparing its third vehicle to reach the market. Continue Reading...
The cost of driving an electric Honda Fit is going down by almost 23 percent. Continue Reading...
Nissan has delivered 75,000 Leaf electric vehicles in the U.S. Continue Reading...
Jaguar might be readying an electrified version of its new XE sedan. Continue Reading...
Tesla may have some new competition coming from a new startup automaker. Continue Reading...
The latest over-the-air-update to Tesla’s Model S will introduce a host of enhancements to the electric luxury sedan including a warning system meant to keep drivers from driving out of range from a charger. Continue Reading...
Tesla sales are back on in the state of New Jersey. Continue Reading...
BMW’s i sub-brand currently has two models, but the German automaker is contemplating what’s to come for this eco friendly division. Continue Reading...
It appears that the Tesla Model S is about to get a boost for its driving range. Continue Reading...
BMW has issued a software update for its i3 models equipped with a range-extender. Continue Reading...
Audi has confirmed that another crossover model is in development. Continue Reading...
Soft sales in China continue to plague Tesla as the company struggles to find firm footing in what it initially hoped would be a key market to further growth. Continue Reading...
Detroit Electric has opened its first showroom. Continue Reading...
BMW is denying that its working on a car with Apple. Continue Reading...
V0lkswagen is now offering a more affordable version of its fully-electric e-Golf. Continue Reading...
Chevrolet revealed a pure electric concept car at the Detroit auto show back in January. Called the Bolt, this BMW i3-esque hatchback promises a 200-mile range. Not one to be outdone, the bow tie’s arch nemesis may be planning a rival to this model. Continue Reading...
Audi is looking to set the benchmark for electric vehicle performance. Continue Reading...
Apple is a giant among monsters. This California-based tech firm sells millions upon millions of iDevices and Macintosh computers every year, products that have made them prosperous beyond belief. But could the company have its eye on the automotive industry? Continue Reading...
Mitsubishi is giving its i-MiEV electric car minor updates for the 2016 model year. Continue Reading...
What are the worst cars available on today’s market? Continue Reading...
The Tesla Model S has once again been named the best overall new car by Consumer Reports. Continue Reading...


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Toyota Innova Crysta and Kia Carnival have shown positive growth on MoM basis, but the former’s YoY sales have declined slightly
While the sales slowdown in the Indian market is largely over, not all vehicle segments have shown complete recovery. The premium MPV market space is one such market space where growth has been rather slow, and the sales figures are yet to normalise. Here, we shall discuss the sales figures of Toyota Innova Crysta and Kia Carnival during October 2020.
Last month, Toyota managed to dispatch a total of 4,477 units of the Innova Crysta. Compared to the same period last year, this is a year-on-year (YoY) sales decline of 11.55 per cent (5,062 units retailed in October 2019). However, on a month-on-month (MoM) basis, the Innova has registered a growth of 9.5 per cent (4,087 units sold in September 2020).
As for the Kia Carnival, it has managed to register a sales growth of 20.85 per cent, with 400 units sold in October 2020 compared to 331 units in September 2020. As the Kia Carnival only arrived in the Indian market this year, there are no YoY figures to report. The Carnival is a niche product in the Indian market, with slow sales figures, especially compared to other Kia products, the Seltos and Sonet.
The primary reason for the Carnival’s slow sales is its high price tag. The vehicle costs between Rs. 24.95 lakh and Rs. 33.95 lakh in India, which is decently expensive. Also, it is priced quite close to premium SUVs, like Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas, and now, the MG Gloster as well. A lot of customers would buy these SUVs instead, and thus the Kia MPV doesn’t have a lot of takers.
As for the Toyota Innova Crysta, it is still the best-selling vehicle in the Japanese carmaker’s arsenal, even though its YoY sales have dropped. Priced from Rs. 15.66 lakh to Rs. 23.63 lakh, the Innova has remained largely unchallenged in the Indian market. Although the MG Hector Plus falls roughly in the same price bracket, the Innova is more premium, and has a better dealer network as well.
The Toyota Innova Crysta is also due for mid-life update now. The MPV has received a facelift in a few international markets, and the refreshed model is expected to arrive in India later this month. The facelift model could potentially improve the sales performance of the Innova.


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Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 06:20 pm PT (09:20 pm ET)
iPhone developer agreement hints at new version of iPhone OSAn unintended update to the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement went live Tuesday with a placeholder referencing a Jan. 27 launch, suggesting an updated iPhone OS could be presented at Apple's product unveiling Wednesday.
The placeholder can be found on the signup for for Apple's iPhone Developer Program and reads: "Need to update this for the 27th launch."
With Apple's Jan. 27th event drawing ever closer, this placeholder suggests that an updated iPhone OS may be presented along side the "confirmed" tablet.
According to McGraw-Hill CEO Terry McGraw, Apple's tablet device will run a variant of the iPhone mobile operating system, which lends credence to the idea of an updated iPhone OS announcement Wednesday.
On Monday, analytics firm Flurry released statistics that possible tablet prototypes were being used on Apple's campus running iPhone OS 3.2, an unreleased version of Apple mobile operating system. This means that rumors of the tablet running iPhone OS 4.0 could be off base.
On Topic: Future Hardware
- Apple has discussed charging 'around $400' for its wearable 'iWatch' - report
- Apple's wearable 'iWatch' not expected to ship until early 2015
- Apple again rumored to unveil 'iWatch' alongside next-gen iPhones on Sept. 9
- Apple expected to unveil 'iWatch' alongside 'iPhone 6' at Sept. 9 event
- Apple's 12-inch Retina MacBook Air given vague 15-month launch window by DigiTimes


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The Commission on Aging and Disability are warning residents about recent scams targeting seniors.
The scam involves a recorded phone call promising free or low cost personal emergency or medical alert systems.
"The purpose of these calls is to possibly gain access to credit card or other sensitive information" said Jim Shulman, Executive Director of the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability.
He continued, "This information should never be given out over the phone to someone you don't know."
Seniors and persons with disabilities have been receiving automated phone calls saying that they are recipients of free person free personal emergency and medical alert services at little or no cost.
The message continues to say that someone else has ordered the system for them and that the phone call is to verify shipping instructions.
The listener is then told to press a button to speak to someone in customer service.
The customer service representative then asks the listener for a credit card and other personal information.
If the listener already has an emergency system, the representative then pretends to be from their existing provider.
The Commission on Aging and Disability have helpful tips to avoid scams, including:
Anyone who believes they have been a victim of a scam is urged to call their local law offices.
1306 N. Broadway NE Knoxville,
Can’t find something?
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2014 Young Broadcasting of Knoxville, Inc. A Media General Company.


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A total of two billion items will be posted throughout the festive season, including 750 million Christmas cards and 100 million items ordered online, up from 70 million last year.
The Royal Mail has increased its fleet of vehicles by 4,000 to support the Christmas operation and will use up to eight train services between London and Scotland each day compared to two during the rest of the year.
The postal organisation said it believed its new pricing structure will have little if any impact on people's posting habits this Christmas.
A survey of 2,000 for the Royal Mail showed that more than four out of five believed the new system would make no difference to how many cards they sent, or what size they were.
Since August, postal prices have been based on the size and shape of an item as well as the weight.
The Royal Mail has hired thousands of workers to help deal with an estimated 400 million poorly addressed or badly written Christmas cards.
Many cards and letters will not be able to be read by automated sorting machines because of problems including a lack of a postcode, illegible handwriting or badly addressed cards and letters.
The Royal Mail said it has taken on 3,000 staff to help process the letters and cards by hand.Reuse content


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MARRACHINHO, THE second biggest supermarket chain in the Algarve, could be passing into Spanish hands, according to press rumours.
Francisco Díaz Mingorance, president of the El Jamón chain of supermarkets, located near the Portuguese border town of Vila Real de Santo António, insists that negotiations will start in September to purchase an Algarvean chain of 16 supermarkets. “I was all set to finalise the sale, but the Portuguese owner preferred to wait for the forecast increase in summer tourist revenue, and asked to negotiate later,” said Mingorance.
The Portuguese press has assumed that Mingorance is referring to the Marrachinho supermarkets because José António Silva, the owner of Alisuper, the biggest Algarve group, has denied any contact with the Spanish chain. The Marrachinho group is a family business, founded in 1970 by the father of the present owner, José Manuel Marrachinho. It employs more than 500 people and has shops stretching from Lagos to Monte Gordo.
José Marrachinho says his group is not for sale but admits that a very good offer would be hard to refuse. “We started contacts with this chain – El Jamón – two years ago, but, in the end, nothing arose from them. Recently, I have received contacts from other groups and officials from many of them have come to our offices. But no firm offer is on the table. I don’t need to sell and, if I do, it would have to be a very good proposal and I would have to think twice,” he says. This year has been marked by Spanish interest in the Algarve. The most high profile takeover was the January purchase of Vilamoura Marina by Prasa, a Spanish real estate group.


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Today, OnePlus announced that it will launch a 100W dual-port super flash charger for the first time. This charger supports up to 65W PD fast charging protocol. According to reports, the new charger adopts a USB-A + Type-C dual interface design. With this design, the charger can use both ports at the same time. Also, the device supports the longevity version of 100W super flash charging. It also supports 65W PD fast charging protocol. The charger can quickly charge mobile phones, tablets, notebooks and other compatible devices.
OnePlus 11 charging speed
In fact, this charger is prepared for the new flagship OnePlus 11 which is set to launch soon. It is officially announced that the new phone will come with a 5000 mAh large battery and a long-life version of 100W super flash charging. According to Oneplus, this charger can gives this device a full charge in just 25 minutes. It can charge up to 50% in 10 minutes.
Gizchina News of the week
Not only that, the OnePlus 11 will also be the industry’s first device to support long-term charging protection and ageing battery charging speed-up. It also supports real-time detection of battery status through 13 sensors and a specially customized battery management chip. Li Jie, president of OnePlus China said that charging mobile phones now goes beyond fast. The charging should be safe and long-lasting.
The company also reveals that this device can charge at high speed even in extreme temperatures. OnePlus reveals that at -20°C, the device will still charge normally. For most devices, this device will not even charge. From previous reports, the OnePlus 11 comes with a 6.7-inch 2K screen that supports a resolution of 3216 × 1440. In addition, this mobile phone will also come with a flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. It will also come with a triple rear camera setup which has a 48MP main camera. OnePlus 11 will be officially released at 14:30 on January 4.


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In a post-Seinfeld world, many of the show’s most memorable quotes, scenes, and items are seeing a resurgence. Maybe it’s thanks to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or the fact that Seinfeld never goes out of style, but new fans have only just met the legendary “puffy shirt.” Here’s what happened to the item when the show ended.
Jerry Seinfeld donated the puffy shirt in 2004
The season 5 of Seinfeld, “The Puffy Shirt,” scored co-creator Larry David an Emmy nomination for writing. He lost to the writers of Frasier but the shirt lives on in TV history.
In the episode, Seinfeld agrees to wear the shirt for his appearance on The Today Show. Thanks to Kramer’s (Michael Richards) low-talking fashion designer girlfriend, Seinfeld didn’t know what he agreed to until it was too late. Many remember him uttering the phrase, “But I don’t want to be a pirate!” to Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
The show ended in 1998 and has played in syndication ever since. For a show about “nothing,” Seinfeld remains eerily relevant. In 2004, Jerry Seinfeld donated the shirt to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
Currently, the museum is closed due to COVID-19 and the shirt is not available to view.
The shirt became available for auction and sold for an incredible amount
Years later — in 2017 — the shirt was put up for auction through Profiles in History. The auction also included “hundreds of props, costumes, and other memorabilia from a wide range of Hollywood productions,” according to Beckett.com.
“Without question, the “Puffy Shirt” is the most identifiable garment worn in the series. Jerry Seinfeld, himself, recognized its significance and personally donated one of the three shirts to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. In production used fine condition. Comes with an LOA from the costume company that rented the shirt to the production,” the website described the item.
Bidding began at $10,000 and the shirt sold for $45,000, plus applicable fees and taxes, to a Calabasas, California resident.
The puffy shirt lives on in entertainment history
For an episode to be remembered decades later is quite the feat — let alone, a miscellaneous item from an episode. In 2016, Bryant Gumble revisited “The Puffy Shirt” during a Halloween visit to The Today Show. Former co-anchor Matt Lauer dressed as Seinfeld in a similar-looking shirt.
There are costumes specific to the puffy shirt and everything it represents, proving Seinfeld was more than a TV show — it was a statement.
“The museum collected artifacts from the show Seinfeld because the show was such a defining moment in American TV comedy and American culture,” curator Dwight Blocker Bowers said about the shirt’s status.
“I remember telling Jerry Seinfeld that the essence of the show was him and his humor. Short of taking him to a taxidermist and having him conserved for the collection, the puffy shirt, of the precious little material culture that remained from the show, gave a sense of the slightly absurd brand of comedy that was featured on the show.”


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Consumers will have to shell out more for cooking gas, as the price of LPG was hiked by around ₹20 a cylinder across the country on Wednesday.
According to IndianOil, a 14.2 kg domestic cylinder will now cost ₹714 in Delhi, ₹19 more than its price in December 2019. In Mumbai, too, LPG is now costlier by ₹19 a cylinder.
In Kolkata and Chennai, domestic LPG is costlier by ₹21.5 and ₹20 per cylinder, respectively.
However, subsidised LPG, for consumers with a taxable income below ₹10 lakh per annum, will remain ₹490-500 a cylinder. The price increase for these consumers will be absorbed by the Centre through a direct benefit transfer of subsidy.
Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices have also been hiked across metros, by an average of ₹1,713.56/kl. The hike is around 2.66 per cent across the cities.


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Apologies, but no results were found. Perhaps searching will help find a related post.
Tecno Mobile Now in India With i3, i5 and i7 Smartphones
Tecno Mobile, a subsidiary of Transsion Holdings which is known for Itel brand in India, has launched five smartphones in India in the range of Rs. 7,990 to Rs. 14,990. The five smartphones launched
iBall Slide i9018- Dual Core 9 inch tablet with 1GB RAM launched
Innovation of technology and features for tablets and smartphones in the gadget industry is emerging day by day, every time almost every manufacture are trying to innovate something new in a urge to
Videocon A20 and A30 budget Android Phone to be launched soon
Videocon is planning to launch it's two new budget Android smartphones very soon in the Indian market. Videocon with the upcoming launch of it's two smartphones has planned it's comeback as a strong
ZTE Nubia Z7 with 4GB RAM – 128 GB internal storage – Phone or PC ?
Ever wonder how much RAM you need in a phone, with ZTE Nubia Z7 rumours, it is believe to have 4GB of RAM. As per rumours, this can be a very powerful phone with plenty of RAM and internal storage.


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For the first time in 15 years, Illinois farmer Steve Ruh will plant only old-school soybean seeds to boost profit in a premium niche market, abandoning the popular genetically modified varieties.
“Margins are so tight you are looking for anything you can to generate more dollars per acre,” Ruh, 50, said in a telephone interview from Sugar Grove, Illinois. Soybean futures in Chicago have slumped as much as 25 percent from a peak in March as China, embroiled in a trade war with the U.S., opted for Brazilian supplies following bumper crops in the Americas.
The median price of a bag of soybean seeds with no genetic modification is $39, compared with the priciest GMO variety at $54, Kevin McNew, the chief economist at Farmers Business Network, said in a telephone interview, citing his firm’s study.
Signs are emerging that demand for food made with non-GMO ingredients in the U.S. is increasing. In 2018, 35 percent of consumers between 18 to 34 were “aware and concerned” about genetically modified organisms, up from 25 percent in 2013, according to NPD Group, a research company.
The domestic appeal of non-GMO products and organic food is attracting farmers, said Greg Lickteig, director of specialty grains at Omaha, Nebraska-based Scoular Co., a grain handler. Previously, demand for those crops was linked to Japan, the European Union and other overseas markets.
“Farmers are taking a renewed interest in non-biotech and non-GMO varieties of soybeans,” Lickteig said in a telephone interview. “It’s not just anecdotal. It’s real.”
Read full, original article: Pricey GMO Soy Seeds Lose Luster as Farmers Hunt for More Profit


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Zen Studios has announced that Star Wars is coming to Zen Pinball 2.
Twitter was all a twitter earlier about Star Wars pinball, and I literally though some new pinball machine was coming out. I am so not with the times.
Anyway, Zen said the first pack of tables include Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Boba Fett, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Beyond these, seven others are in production and will be “revealed as 2013 unfolds.”
Each table features a different iconic moment from the Star Wars universe, with interactive 3D characters and unique gameplay.
Check out a video below, and head over to the
PS Blog for more information.


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Grand slam champion Serena Williams signed up to join Martin Broughton’s proposal to buy Premier League club soccer club Chelsea.
Williams is already part of a majority woman-founded group that owns Angel City FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Williams’s early-stage venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, has raised an inaugural fund of $111 million. Williams is already an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies, including SendWave, MasterClass and Daily Harvest.
According to Forbes, she has a net worth of $240 million.
In an interview, Williams shared that it was her love of the business world that created the first connection with her now-husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
“One of our first conversations was investing, because I’ve been investing for over nine years now,” Williams told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “We try to keep business separate. Obviously, there are things that come up, where we talk about business at home — but we try to keep our businesses as separate as they can be.”
Formula One star Lewis Hamilton also signed up.
“It’s a move away from what they’re investing in traditionally, [by] investing in a club’s franchise, especially a club the size of Chelsea. [Sportspeople are] typically seen as investing in consumer brands, early stage businesses that clearly have relevance to their sporting career, but also kind of that move into the wider business world,” Ben Peppi, sports commercial expert at JMW Solicitors, told CNN Sport.
“This, to me, looks more like a traditional investment play. Clearly, it’s a financial return. It’s not going to be acting as brand ambassadors for Chelsea Football Club in a traditional way that they might with other consumer brands,” he added.


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NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Cisco's ( CSCO) much-hyped announcement turned out to be a super fast Internet router as expected. The stock got no pop despite Cisco's Apple-like pre-announcement buzz campaign. Hours after unveiling Cisco's next-generation router, the company's shares were still in the red, though recently the stock ticked up 8 cents to $26.22 -- still a ways from the $80 mark back in 2000. So much for borrowing from Apple's ( AAPL) marketing playbook. Cisco's enticingly cryptic pre-announcements foretold a revelation that would "forever change the Internet." No doubt Cisco didn't like getting upstaged last month by Google's ( GOOG) announcement that it was testing ultra high-speed broadband networks with speeds Google claimed would be 100 times faster than what most Americans experience online today. The buzz campaign almost worked. Google Trends showed that "Cisco" lit up the charts yesterday and "Cisco Announcement" is back on the search engine's list of "Hot Topics" today. That's pretty heady stuff for a company that makes the backend equipment that rarely gets the kind of buzz that front-end toys like Apple's iPad tend to generate. Just yesterday, Apple shares hit a new record after debuting its TV ads for the iPad during the Oscars. Cisco shares also surged to a two-year record yesterday ahead of today's big news, but it seems that once again investors bought the hype and sold the news. It just goes to show, it's hard to match Apple in the buzz factor. It's not that we don't want a 100-Gigabit router that can deliver all the movies ever made in just four minutes. It's just hard to get excited about a piece of technology that most consumers will never see. Nice try, Cisco. --Written by Glenn Hall in New York. Follow TheStreet.com on
Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.


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Hot Doug's is about more than a sausage on a bun. The restaurant has become a bit of an institution in Chicago, and as such, it has quite the story to tell. While owner Doug Sohn has been talking about this book for some time -- even collecting stories from patrons -- it wasn't until Jan. 7 that he made a big announcement on Facebook: the book will be published this coming July, and is now available for pre-order.
The book -- an official title is yet to be released -- includes not only the restaurant's history, but also some recipes that put Hot Doug's on the map, among other fun trivia. Notable personalities made contributions to book, such as Anthony Bourdain -- who visited the restaurant on "No Reservations," and Chicago chef and restauranteur Paul Kahan, among others. The Chicago Hot Dog Examiner also shared a story, which will be published in the book as well.
In a city where hot dogs are revered, especially ones with inventive and delicious flavors, Sohn's book is sure to be a hit.
The Hot Doug's book is now available for pre-order on Amazon.
© Elizabeth SanFilippo 2012
Have a question about the world of hot dogs? Email Elizabeth here.


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FCC expected to fine Sprint $105 million for overcharging customers (Just like AT&T)
The Federal Communications Commission is reportedly on the verge of fining Sprint $105 million for cramming charges that brought complaints from tens of thousands of customers.
The FCC has not confirmed the action against Sprint, but it was reported Monday in the National Journal and yesterday in The Wall Street Journal. “According to the enforcement action, which hasn’t been finalized, Sprint billed customers for third-party services it knew they hadn’t asked for and didn’t want,” National Journal wrote.
“According to [an unnamed FCC official], the FCC’s probe focused on a three-month window from August to October 2013, during which they said Sprint received almost 35,000 complaints from consumers about the unwanted charges,” The Wall Street Journal wrote. “The FCC alleges Sprint’s actions were a willful violation, and proposes the company forfeit $105 million to resolve the investigation.”
The reports did not say how much of the $105 million would be returned to customers. In the case of AT&T, $80 million was set aside for customer refunds to be distributed by the Federal Trade Commission. Carriers largely halted cramming charges a year ago, but the FCC and FTC are still investigating how the carriers overcharged customers before that.
UPDATE: The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Sprint over the alleged cramming charges today.
“We strongly disagree with (CFPB’s) characterization of our business practices… Sprint took considerable steps to protect wireless customers from unauthorized third-party billing,” said a Sprint statement, according to CNBC. “It appears the CFPB has decided to use this issue as the test case on whether it has legal authority to assert jurisdiction over wireless carriers.”


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The world’s first identity blockchain and the Vietnamese dream of conquering blockchain
On December 19, 2021, Welups – the world’s first blockchain network, which was developed 100% by Synthetic Teamese, will start the official mainnet version in Dubai.
This helps the dream of conquering the global blockchain, mastering the technology and developing the economy, and is partially realized by Welups through the successful development of a blockchain-based identity technology and building a team. Technologists strive to rise and make the Synthetic Teamese proud on five continents.
Welups – have great ambitions
With a long-term vision, Welups founder, CEO Hero Vu – who has worked and researched in the blockchain field for many years – recognized that digital identity is the future trend. He came up with the idea of using the superior functions of blockchain technology to operate in global digital identification. In contrast to today’s traditional identification systems, they are discreet, insecure and proprietary. Welups enables more secure digital identity management and storage by providing a uniform, interoperable and tamper-proof infrastructure with decisive advantages for companies, users and IoT management systems.
Around 7 billion devices are connected to the Internet. This number is expected to grow to 15 billion by 2022 and to 22 billion by 2025. Devices and objects connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) must identify sensors, displays and devices and securely manage access to sensitive and non-sensitive data. Therefore Welups has proactively deployed IoT management systems to close these service gaps. For example, it’s not uncommon for a company to have tens of thousands of IoT devices as opposed to dozens or hundreds of traditional servers and user devices. Non-standard between devices is a common illness at such volumes. Security often remains an issue after the implementation of simple manageability functions has been massively taxed, which is evident in large-scale IoT hacking as a trending topic at conferences.
Digital identifiers from the use of personal data on the Internet and from hidden data generated by a person’s online actions. The numeric identifier can be an alias profile that is linked to the IP address of the device, for example a randomly generated unique ID. Data points that can help with identity formation include usernames and passwords, driver’s license numbers, online purchase history, date of birth, online search activity, medical history, etc. Biometric, behavioral, biographical are methods that determine a person’s identity.
Waiting optimistically for the day to conquer the global blockchain
Although the road to conquest is still long, Welups needs to communicate by introducing the market and continuously informing, but CEO Hero Vu is optimistic about the speed of development and the success of the project. Legal proceedings are complete. Everything was carefully prepared and just waited for the start date of Welups – the world’s first identity blockchain on December 19, 2021 in Dubai.
If everything goes according to plan, Welups will ultimately continue to grow and expand into other large fintech markets such as Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Seoul and many more potential markets.
Welups always believes that it will bring the first blockchain technology developed by Synthetic Teamese, turning it into a technological competitive advantage between Synthetic Team and other countries, and affirms to the world that Synthetic Team can dominate animation, especially when it comes to image; We own the technology, we can gradually develop and improve our own technology instead of buying from your country. At the same time, it is possible to increase the level of information security and bring the image of Synthetic Teamese technology to the same level as the most advanced technologies in the world.
The official Welups Blockchain Mainnet version has been public since 08/2021 after 4 months of stable tests and an official global start on December 19, 2021. Let’s follow Welups as a challenge or opportunity and the roadmap of the Dapp Welups ecosystem at:
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/Welups
Disclaimer: This is a press release, not investment advice. Before you act, do your research carefully. We are not responsible for your investment decisions.


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ROGER WATERS ANNOUNCES 2018 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
If you were lucky enough to catch Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters perform The Wall Live in Australia five years ago, you already know why you won’t want to miss his just announced 2018 Australian Tour.
Roger Waters’ Us + Them tour will feature tracks from Pink Floyd’s DOSTM, The Wall, Animals and Wish You Were Here, plus hits from his solo albums and new material.
Roger Waters’ legendary live performances are renowned as immersive sensory experiences featuring high class, state-of- the-art audio visual production and breathtaking quad sound.
The tour hits New Zealand first in January 2018 before journeying to Sydney, February 2nd, with further shows across the country before finishing up in Perth February 20th.
Tickets start at $99 up to $299 for a “VIP Experience”.
For more information visit Live Nation.
StereoNET's Founder & Publisher and still buried deep in the review room auditioning everything from docks to soundbars, amplifiers and headphones. Marc is also the founder of the annual International HiFi Show.
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text: DENWAY Investment, the mainland car company, fell 6.8 per cent to become the worst-performing stock on the exchange yesterday as speculators found no-one wanting to buy the shares for which they had fought so hard. Consistent selling pressure pulled the share price down to $2.05, a fall of 15 cents, with dealers saying many shareholders were keen to sell but unable to get the price they wanted. Trade volume was the day's seventh highest at $75.9 million. The warrants also fell, by 10 cents to $1.11. Yesterday was the company's second day on the exchange, and the poor performance was in marked contrast to the frenzy of two weeks ago, when Denway shares were in more demand than any share in Hongkong's history. The one-for-five bonus warrants fell nine per cent, leaving investors with a package price of $2.232, an 86 per cent return on the subscription price of $1.22, but only a slim return for punters who borrowed $1 million from a mainstream financial institution to stag the issue, and had lending costs of around 80 cents a share. Mr Adrian Ngan Wai-hung, assistant director at Vickers Ballas, said trade was ''quite disappointing'' and could help cool down speculation on public listings, particularly China concept stocks. ''Denway has a lot of concept but there is no buying after the listing,'' Mr Ngan said. There was little sign of institutions moving into the market to buy the stock from speculators, on a day when prices were marked slightly down. Investment manager of Thornton Management (Asia), Mr Christopher Day, said that with new listings ''institutions like to sit back and see what the share price does.'' Before listing, the shares traded as high as $3 on the grey market and the frenzied demand for Denway shares has prompted a government investigation.


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Even after regulators assured the public all contaminated baby formula was off the shelves, B.X. Wei wasn't going to feed his 2-month-old son anything that came out of a can. Especially not one made in China.
But his wife didn't have enough breast milk for the baby.
Then the 30-year-old businessman from Jiangsu province remembered that in his childhood neighborhood women would nurse each other's babies if one ran out of milk. So he decided to try a new twist on the old tradition: On Monday, he put an ad on the Internet soliciting a wet nurse.
"I don't know if any milk powder is safe," Wei said.
China's latest food scandal has created a surge of interest in wet nurses. Wei has been interviewing candidates who are asking for as much as $1,500 per month -- about 10 times the price of an average nanny.
Parents who cannot afford such luxuries are in a quandary. As stores here and elsewhere in the world remove such products as yogurt to candies in the scandal over contaminated milk products, Chinese consumers are left wondering what else might be poisoning their children.
The discovery that melamine, a toxic industrial compound, had been added to Chinese milk has set off a panic extending through Asia, Europe and parts of Africa.
On Saturday, Premier Wen Jiabao promised to improve Chinese food safety. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in the port of Tianjin, Wen did not announce new initiatives but said the government would work to instill business ethics in light of the milk contamination and a string of earlier scares.
"We plan not only to revitalize the food industry and the milk powder industry, we will try to ensure that all China-made products are safe for consumers," he said.
Up to now, many Chinese had shrugged off complaints about their products as China-bashing or hysteria by spoiled Western consumers. But the baby milk has hit home in a way past scandals have not. Some even admit (with embarrassment because it goes against their patriotism) that they are going out of their way to look for products not made in China.
"The inspection of foreign products is stricter. The regulations are better," said Qiao Ningxia, 30, a Beijing mother. "Our laws are not properly developed. If you pay, you can get away with things."


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Kenyan mobile network operator Safaricom has struck an agreement with Alibaba to use its M-Pesa mobile payment service for making online purchases on AliExpress.com.
Launched over 10 years ago in an effort to drive financial inclusion, M-Pesa is said to be a profit booster for the mobile operator.
The new alliance is aimed at offering a global appeal to the payments platform, which currently has a user base of over 21 million.
Commenting on the new partnership, Safaricom chief customer officer Sylvia Mulinge said: “This partnership seeks to connect Kenyans to even more business opportunities by enabling them to seamlessly source, purchase and import goods from the world’s leading manufacturers.”
Under the agreement, Alibaba affiliate Ant Financial will offer M-Pesa as a payment option for payments denominated in Kenyan shillings.
“The move especially targets microtraders in the country who source goods and other supplies from manufacturers in China,” Safaricom noted.
In November 2018, Safaricom collaborated with Western Union to enable M-Pesa users send and receive money transfers across the world.
At present, 65% of mobile phone users in Kenya use Safaricom. The mobile operator is owned by Vodacom and Vodafone.
Last month, Western Union introduced a new payment option for Kenyan consumers, enabling them to do online shopping on Amazon.com with local currency.


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Aussie and Lendi merger announced in mega home-loan deal
Two home loan businesses for the price of one, that’s the big news from Aussie which will merge with Lendi, the online home loan platform.
The proposed transaction, announced mid-December, will combine Lendi’s market-leading digital technology combine with Aussie’s brand and significant broker and franchisee network,
The merged business will maintain a multi-brand strategy and is expected to deliver a range of benefits for both customers and brokers.
Aussie’s parent company, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), said it will deliver a greater choice of home loan lenders, products and ways for customers to engage with their mortgage broker either in person or online.
Aussie brokers and franchisees will be able to leverage Lendi’s technology and platform, including integration with lender credit-decisioning engines and regulatory and compliance tools.
Increased investment in both brands is expected to accelerate growth.
James Symond, chief executive officer of Aussie, said “The merger is another important step in the almost 29-year evolution of Aussie as Australia’s leading retail mortgage broker. We are currently posting record lending volumes through our network of over 970 brokers and over 210 stores and, by underpinning Lendi’s technology across our national broker network, we will further accelerate this growth and momentum.”
Lendi shareholders will hold the majority shareholding of 55 per cent in the merged business, while CBA,will retain a 45 per cent shareholding and continue to provide funding for the Aussie Select branded home loan product.
David Hyman, CEO and co-founder of Lendi, said; “This is an exceptional opportunity to drive the growth and digitisation of two companies that have led disruptive change for the benefit of customers in the Australian home loan market.
“Lendi was born digital. Our technology, platform and people have revolutionised not only how Australians access home loans but also market transparency. The role of digital technology in strengthening customer outcomes, compliance and operational agility is only growing in importance and by coming together with a robust and trusted business like Aussie, we will be able to drive even stronger outcomes for more homeowners and brokers alike.”
ANZi (a subsidiary of ANZ) is a long-term partner and shareholder of Lendi. Subject to transaction terms and regulatory approval it is backing the merger and further investment into the new group.
Ron Spector, managing director ANZi, said “Lendi is at the forefront of the digitisation of the home loan market in Australia. We are excited by the opportunity of two great mortgage broker brands coming together to further this mission. We look forward to supporting the team in delivering this compelling customer proposition.”
Completion of the transaction is expected by mid 2021, subject to ACCC approval and other customary conditions.